Staten Island Sandy families get into the holiday spirit at festive party

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For a little while on Saturday, Staten Island families uprooted by Sandy's devastation were able to focus on the joy of the holiday season during a four-hour free party, complete with Santa Claus, 2,500 toys and kid-friendly food at the Vanderbilt, South Beach.

"It's really great to be able to get together with other families who went through the same thing and partake," said Dia Vukovic, the mother of three children ages 7 years old to 9 months, who were forced from their New Dorp home for three weeks in the wake of the killer storm.

"This is wonderful," said Meredith Loock of Dongan Hills, who was joined by her husband, John, and their son, Harrison, 5. "We really want to make it an awesome Christmas for him."

The Loocks said they lost "everything," including their car which they had packed with valuables before they attempted to flee. They rode out the storm in a safe spot in their house, but spent a month with family before they were able to return home.

The holiday party, which drew nearly 500 Islanders who had registered with FEMA, was jointly sponsored by Borough President James Molinaro, the Staten Island Advance, the Siller Foundation's T2T Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund and the Rochester, N.Y.-based "Pirate Toy Fund," which distributes toys to children year-round.

The catering hall was festively decorated, with one room transformed into a winter wonderland.

"Christmas is a time for kids," said Siller Foundation chair Frank Siller. "At a time when so much was stripped away from these families, it's important for them to be able to celebrate and put a little normalcy back in their lives."

Added Molinaro: "Kids make a party. It is important for them to realize that they have a lot of people around them who love them and who want them to have a joyous holiday."

Otto Harnischfeger, president of the Pirate Toy Fund, played Santa.

"This is about a community coming together," he said. "We're excited to be part of it."

Among the giveaways: new clothing, all manner of toys and stuffed animals and Yankee backpacks stuffed with school supplies and Yankee memorabilia.

There was also a candy station, courtesy of the 9/11 Firefighter Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund.

"People in the district are still suffering immensely," said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore), who was on hand. "This is something to help lift their spirits and to help parents who might not otherwise have the money to pay for toys and gifts because of the expenses they are paying out for contractors."

Entertainment was provided by cast members of the St. George Theater's current Christmas Show, as well as the band and drama club of Susan Wagner High School.

Also underwriting the event was: the Vanderbilt, the St. George Theater, the New York Yankees, Arby's, Adidas, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Johnston RV Country, the Garden Factory and Corrigan Moving Systems.